episode_0074

“Applications have increased considerably.”

“I’m not like Erica-senior yet, but I’ve seen her a few times. The realization of my imagination is progressing to some extent, and it seems like there are no more restrictions on such things after meeting Denatus. I think soon I will be able to use magic with simple movements or thoughts.”

“Can a first grader be that strong?”

“This isn’t something someone who is considered the strongest among first-year students would say, but I think I would lose even if I fought with all my might right now. The compatibility is not good either.”

“Compatibility crumbles in the face of powerful magic, because it can set even water on fire.”

As I was nodding lightly at her words, she saw the burned trash and lightly waved her wand to collect the fire at the tip of the wand and extinguish it. I looked at her.

“If such a thing is possible, wouldn’t it be a problem where I don’t have to use this much effort?”

“The only flame I can control is the one I create. Like you, I don’t know how to use the water around me or anything like that yet.”

“It’s amazing that this level of power can be achieved with your own mana.”

And that’s what I thought. I wondered if Prince Chartreau was as strong as her, and since he was Erica-senpai and Isabelle-senpai, I thought he would be strong, but I didn’t know how strong he was. There may be cases where Celestria is a genius more than others, or if not, there may be something that comes from royal blood.

Now that I think about it, I was curious about how many strong people there were among the royal family. Ceresria was the only royal who entered the academy, and it was impossible to know whether there were other grades or not. Is there some kind of magic potion that only royals take?

“Fire magic has its limits, so wizards who use fire magic also learn wind magic. It’s the same as people learning ice magic learning water magic.”

“Isn’t that impossible if you don’t have talent?”

“It is difficult to forcibly convert the mana flowing through the human body into mana of a different series, unless one is born with various types of mana.”

And then she smiled.

“A human with light mana like Sharon may be able to handle mana of all attributes. The mana of light is also the origin of all magic.”

“You are overflowing with talent like Isabel.”

“I also don’t have wind mana flowing in my body, so it will probably take time to learn.”

As I was talking to her, my father started clapping for both of us.

“This is the academy’s ability. Even though I am a first year student, I am at this level. How strong are the seniors who are like second year students?”

“It may be because they are said to be the strongest among the 1st graders. If it were the current Astan, wouldn’t it be good to fight against the 3rd graders?”

I shrugged my shoulders at her words. I think you would win even if you fight three 3rd graders, but I don’t know, some of you could win, some you could lose. As I was thinking that, my father laughed out loud and started tapping my shoulder.

“You said you went to the academy and did some work, but you didn’t neglect your studies.”

“Work is something I do in the evening.”

“Astan is full of talent.”

And when I glanced at her, I saw that she was looking at me. I said he was overflowing with talent, but he wasn’t that talented or anything. It was natural to feel that way because the people around me were full of talent. Next to her are Celestria and Sharon, one of whom knows how to manipulate the mana of light, and the other is a princess of flame.

Of course, I didn’t have that level of skill. No matter how hard I tried and practiced, I could catch up with other magicians, but it was difficult to keep up with Celestria and Sharon. Even now, Sharon is growing up, and so is Celestria.

“Then you two should go now, breakfast preparations are almost done.”

“Is your father coming home from work?”

“It will be difficult for him to come to farm work today, so I will have to work hard. Albarn and Ellis will probably be back around lunch, so say hello and leave. There is nothing to do in this town, so it would be better for young people to go somewhere else.”

“We have to go back to Araelia, Astan.”

I nodded at her words. I had to return to Araelia and participate in the martial arts festival. Of course, even if I went, there might not be any good results or anything like that, but I couldn’t disobey the king’s orders.

When I arrived home and was eating breakfast given by my mother, Ceresria spoke softly to me while eating breakfast.

“Should I go back to El Taor after seeing my younger brothers?”

“There’s nothing to do here anyway. I have to go back and prepare for martial arts.”

“When I go to Araelia, I’ll have to get a robe tailored for Mutuje to wear.”

“It doesn’t matter if you go out in uniform, right?”

“Although uniforms have light protective magic, there are also robes that increase the amount of mana or help restore mana.”

“These are clothes you can’t wear to the academy anyway, and if Erica had heard, she would have told you to practice magic while wearing those things.”

“Well, that’s true. There are limits to tools, but there are no limits to humans.”

After saying that, she smiled slightly.

“What do you think is my gift?”

“I don’t want to receive a gift I can’t wear.”

“But if I were to gift a wand, it would be difficult since I have a wand that I am currently using and there are no skilled wand craftsmen in Araelia.”

“You don’t have to give anything like a gift.”

“It’s the heart.”

As she said that, she finished the soup and bread her mother had prepared and looked around for a moment.

“Galan Village is quiet, on a completely different level from Araelia.”

“What do you want from the countryside?”

“So I like it. Araelia is noisy and full of unpleasant things. Even when people approach me, most of them come because they want something from me, and they are people who live with lies and hide the truth.”

“That might be the same for me too.”

“You are different from those people. You lie, but it is visible. And if I really wanted something, I wouldn’t have rejected the robe from before. Because what you want is your family’s benefit, not your own.”

While I was taking a sip of the milk my mother had prepared without responding to anything she said, I naturally got up when I heard the sound of something running towards our house.

“It looks like the younger brothers are here.”

And at the same time as I said that, the door opened and a boy came into the house, and I smiled.

“Hyung! I heard your hair has turned white!”

“The fact that you say something like that as soon as you arrive leaves me speechless, Alban.”

“The way you speak has become strange, have you suddenly aged?”

“So, what about Ellis? I heard we went to El Taor together.”

“Elise is slow so she is coming now. But is your hair really white? Did you get hit on the head or in the eye?”

“Well, it’s not like that. First of all, say hello, I’m your friend, Seria.”

“It is called Seria.”

Celestria greeted Alban with a soft smile, and Albarn looked at Celestria’s face and quickly bowed his head.

“This is Astan’s younger brother, Alban!”

“What did you go to El Taor for?”

“Dad told me to get some medicine because my cold wasn’t getting better.”

“Then, give him the medicine first, because he has to go home soon anyway.”

“Going already?”

“I have business to do in Araelia.”

“Araelia! I want to go too!”

“No.”

At my words, Celestria began to laugh softly.

“Do you mind if I go with you? Nothing happens just because there is one more person.”

As I was sighing softly at her words, Ellis opened the door and entered the house, and I smiled at her.

“It’s been a while, Ellis.”

“It’s been a while, oppa. Alban. Did you give Anti the medicine?”

“Not yet.”

“Go quickly and take the medicine first.”

Then, Ellis turned her head, made eye contact with Ceresria, smiled slightly, and bowed her head in greeting.

“My name is Ellis.”

“My name is Seria, and I’m Astan’s friend.”

“I didn’t think my brother was the kind of person who would make friends, but I’m surprised that he has friends. I will take good care of my brother.”

“Ellis.”

“I don’t think I said anything wrong?”

Ellis then looked at me and smiled, and I sighed. It was a truly harmonious family.

However, it was difficult to easily erase this feeling of disconnection that was blooming in my heart.

“I never want to walk to El Taor again.”

“Because the road is rough.”

And as I entered Ceresria and Eltaor and was slowly moving towards the portal, Ceresria spoke so softly that only I could hear it.

“It was fun.”

“Suddenly my speaking style has returned.”

“Now that the light holiday is over, it is inevitable that when I return to Araelia, I will become a princess again.”

“What… … Sometimes there have to be days like this.”

“If we go to Galan Village together like this in the future, will you see me as Seria?”

“If you don’t get caught.”

She burst into laughter at my answer.

“Next time I go to Galan Village, I want to try farming. Will you allow me?”

“Increasing the number of workers is a good thing, but… … I wonder if it’s right for a princess to do something like that.”

“I’m Seria, right?”

“If I get the chance.”

“You mean you don’t plan on letting me do it.”

And I slowly moved my feet towards the portal with her.